Many people couldn't care less about the condition of the world, the state of the Church, the destruction of human lives, the breakdown of marriage and family, etc. They just stare at the TV and try to escape from reality through constant indulgence in petty pleasures. We should love the Lord and other people enough to pray: "Let my eyes stream with tears day and night, without rest, over the great destruction which overwhelms the virgin daughter of my people, over her incurable wound" (Jer 14:17).

When Jesus saw people weakened and lost, His heart was moved with pity (Mt 9:36). Jesus cared enough to die on the cross to change this world. As His followers, we should care, too. Because Jesus is Lord and is Love (see 1 Jn 4:16), we should not be depressed. However, we should care enough to cry and live lives of love. If done in love, every act of our lives is precious and powerful. We must not "spend what remains" of our earthly lives "on human desires but on the will of God" (1 Pt 4:2). If we care enough to cry, we will be spared on Judgment Day (see Ez 9:4), and we may hasten the time for the Lord to have pity on us and set us free (see Ps 102:14-15).

When Jesus saw Jerusalem, He wept (Lk 19:41). When we see our world today, should we do anything less? There is hope. There is always hope, for Jesus is Lord. However, hope will be fulfilled only for those who care enough to cry. Love, cry, live, die, and live forever in Jesus.

Nihil Obstat:  Reverend Robert L. Hagedorn, November 29, 1995

Imprimatur:  †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, December 4, 1995